Press Release

CU Denver Ranked No. 1 for Social Mobility by U.S. News and World Report Three Years in a Row

September 18, 2023

For the third consecutive year, the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) is ranked No. 1 in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region for improving students’ social mobility through higher education, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 rankings.

CU Denver students are not just graduating; they are also moving on to meaningful and in-demand occupations in the professions of their choosing. And, because of the unique hands-on opportunities that come from being in downtown Denver, they out earn their peers over the course their careers—from landing their first dream job and launching their own business to building successful careers over time.

“I’m so proud that CU Denver, the most diverse research university in Colorado, remains No. 1 in the state for social mobility for three consecutive years. Today’s students want more than a college degree—they want to know they’ll get a strong return on their investment in higher education. CU Denver offers an innovative, affordable education to diverse learners who go on to change their families, their communities, and our world for the better,” said Chancellor Michelle Marks.

Making Education Work for Everyone

CU Denver’s 2030 Strategic Plan focuses on social mobility and is a key consideration when developing curriculum at CU Denver, where preparing a diverse workforce for the future is a priority. CU Denver is committed to becoming the nation’s first equity-serving institution, and supports underrepresented communities in multiple ways in an effort to make education work for all.  

U.S. News & World Report also ranked several CU Denver undergraduate programs among the best in the nation including:

  • Business
  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Economics
  • Psychology

The U.S. News & World Report rankings comes on the heels of being ranked No. 1 in Colorado and among The Wall Street Journal‘s Best Colleges 2024 list. U.S. News has recently made several changes to their methodology in ranking criteria.

CU Denver’s aspiration to make education work for all has been recognized several times this year:

Change your life on your terms at CU Denver. Click here to learn more.